Adaptable tool hook
An adaptable-tool hook comprises a wire-frame buckle and hook with a strap. The strap can be positioned on the buckle-hook in two different orthogonal positions to allow the strap to wrap an object or tool laterally or longitudinally. The hook stays with the tool and can be hooked on any available belt, pocket, rail, or wire.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hooks and hangers, and more particularly to hooks that can be quickly strapped to a hand tool and thereafter easily be hung from a belt or pocket of a worker.
2. Description of Related Art
Only having “two hands” often requires that a worker put down a hand tool in order to complete some procedure or prepare it for using the tool. But putting the tool down on the ground or table may not be possible or convenient. So a variety of workers tool pouches, holsters and hooks have been devised and marketed.
For example, a belt hook is shown by William Armstrong in United States Design Patent D470,309 S, issued Feb. 18, 2003. Such appears to illustrate a saddle that can be threaded by a workers belt and worn on one side. A snap with a release lever allows a tool with a matching ring to be captured and held. Armstrong shows a variation of this idea in his United States Design Patent D469,250 S, issued Jan. 28, 2003. Here a simple flat hook pointing upwards is strapped to a worker's belt.
James Schwartzmiller has a similar belt saddle with a low-slung hook that he illustrates in United States Design Patent D452,610 S, issued Jan. 1, 2003. Such is being marketed under the trademark E-Z HOLSTER™. Web pages accessed from www.ezholster.com show how the belt saddle and hook are matched with a tool having a ring strapped to it with VELCRO strapping. The problem is the hook on the side of the worker can snag onto anything and can scratch and injure other people and objects. The tool can only be hung on the hook, and the hook must already be pre-attached to the worker's belt.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBriefly, an adaptable tool hook embodiment of the present invention comprises a wire-frame buckle and hook with a strap. The strap can be positioned on the buckle-hook in two different orthogonal positions to allow the strap to wrap an object or tool laterally or longitudinally. The hook stays with the tool and can be hooked on any available belt, pocket, rail, or wire.
An advantage of the present invention is a method and device are provided for hanging objects.
Another advantage of the present invention is that a method and device are provided that are simple, inexpensive, and effective.
A still further advantage of the present invention is that an adaptable hook is provided that can easily be strapped to a tool and then the tool can be hooked on a work-belt.
The above and still further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In use, the adaptable tool hook 100 can be strapped to any object the strap 104 can wrap around and the hook section 114 has the strength to support the weight. It need not necessarily be a tool, and it need not necessarily be hung on a worker or even a person. For example, the adaptable tool hook 100 could be wrapped around a stuffed toy and hung on a rail in a store for merchandising.
When a single strap of VELCRO is used, it creates a challenge on how to thread the strap so the strap can wrap around the tool, hold the buckle 302, and still wind up with the VELCRO-hooks on one face able to engage the VELCRO-loops on the other face. A single simple VELCRO strap with hooks on one side and loops on the other could be used in
Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, such is not intended to limit the invention. Modifications and changes will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is intended that the invention only be limited by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An adaptable hook, comprising:
- a buckle and belt-hook having a folded lip able to hook over a support;
- a pair of orthogonal attachment points disposed in the buckle and belt-hook that provide alternative strap anchors for lateral or longitudinal strapping of an object to hook onto said support; and
- a strap attached to one of the attachment points that can be wrapped around said object and fastened.
2. The adaptable hook of claim 1, further comprising:
- a wire-frame included in the buckle and belt-hook that allows the strap to be simply slipped between the pair of orthogonal attachment points.
3. The adaptable hook of claim 1, further comprising:
- a wire-frame included in the buckle and belt-hook that allows the hook to be slipped onto said support which includes a work belt or pants pocket.
4. The adaptable hook of claim 1, further comprising:
- a sheet-metal plate included in the buckle and belt-hook with a set of four slots arranged in a square that include said orthogonal attachment points.
5. The adaptable hook of claim 1, further comprising:
- a sheet-metal plate included in the buckle and belt-hook with a set of slots generally arranged in a square, and that include said orthogonal attachment points such that the strap can be slipped between lateral and longitudinal attachments.
6. The adaptable hook of claim 1, wherein:
- the strap includes one piece of VELCRO with the hooks and loops on opposite sides.
7. The adaptable hook of claim 1, wherein:
- the strap includes two pieces of VELCRO with the hooks and loops of opposite pieces facing one another for fastening around a tool.
8. The adaptable hook of claim 1, wherein:
- the strap includes a belt and separate buckle.
9. An adaptable hook, comprising:
- a buckle and belt-hook having a folded lip able to hook over a support and including a sheet-metal plate;
- a pair of attachment points disposed in the buckle and belt-hook that provide alternative strap anchors for one of a lateral or longitudinal strapping of an object to hook onto said support; and
- a strap attached to one of the attachment points that can be wrapped around said object and fastened to itself.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 25, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 26, 2006
Patent Grant number: 8070027
Inventors: John Piatt (Haleiwa, HI), Richard Staken (Haleiwa, HI)
Application Number: 11/112,415
International Classification: A45F 5/00 (20060101);